Picture frame



J. N. SCISM PICTURE FRAME Jan. 23, 1951 Filed May 12, 1947 FIG. 4

Imventor l3 JOHN NIVER SCISM,

Patented Jan. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PICTURE FRAME JohnNiver Scism, Baltimore, Md.

Application May '12, 1947, Serial No. 747,51).

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to decorative ornaments and particularly to apicture .holder of durable construction provided with a supportingmember which not only supports a picture, surrounded by a decorativeframe, but enables the picture to be arranged at various angles so thatit can be most effectively observed regardless of whether it be placed ian elevated position .a room, such as on a mantlepiece, or upon a lowtable.

Therefore an object of this invention is to .provide .a picture holderhaving a supporting mem ber which holds the picture in place withindecorative border or frame and tilted at the correct angle for properobservation.

The above and additional advantages and features of the invention aredescribed and claimed in the following specification and claims and areillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional elevation of the picture holder of thisinvention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the base;

Figure 3 is a front view of the decorative border with the supportingmember attached;

Figure 415 a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detailed fragmentary cross-section of a modified form; and

Figure 6 is an elevational view of a modified form of clamp, shownpartly in cross-section.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the decorative border or frameof the picture holder is indicated by the reference numeral 1 in thecentral portion of which there has been provided a recess having ashoulder 9 and an inwardly extending wall la from which projects a shortflange 8 at substantially right angles to the wall 1a. In the preferredembodiment of the invention, the border or frame is made of a singlepiece of stamped metal, but it is to be understood that any suitablematerial may be used, such as plastic, or other material formed in themanner shown. Furthermore, the frame is shown in the shape of an oval,but it may be rectangular, or irregularly shaped if desired. Similarly,while the recessed portio is shown in oval shape, it may be rectangular,or irregularly shaped.

The picture which it is desired to place in the holder is indicated bythe reference numeral 10, and is fitted into the recessed portion. Athin layer of any resilient material H, such as felt, may be placedbetween the picture and the flange 8 to constitute a rear mat or backingfor the picture. A marginal mat or border l2 of conventional pattern maybe placed in front of the picture, and a .suitable piece of glass l3, orother transparent material may be placed over the mat 12. A clamp l4,constituting a front clamping ring and shaped to fit within the recessedportion of the border i when suitably secured in place, holds thepicture Iii, with its felt backing ll, mask l2, and glass 13 withintherecess. The felt backing l i also equalizes the pressure of the flange 8against the picture.

A supporting member I5, made of a strip of flat metal preferably, fitsagainst the back of the inwardly extending flange 8. The clamp [*4 isprovided with threaded holes Hi 'to receive the bolts I1. Openings arealso provided in the glass [3, mask [2, picture ID, felt backingH,'fiange 8, and supporting member -l5, in alignment with the holes it,to allow passage of the bolts H. When the device is assembled the headsof the bolts 11, bearing against the supporting member 15 will, draw upthe clamp M to press against the intervening elements, thus holding theborder 1, and the picture I0, in place.

A base It is provided with pads l9 made of a soft material, such asneoprene or felt, so as not to scratch or mar surfaces upon which thebase may rest. The base maybe formed of a single piece of stamped metal,and is provided with an arcuately shaped depression 20 in its uppersurface. In a threaded hole I8a at the bottom of this depression isfitted the threaded shank 2| of a vertically projecting thumb screw andwhich thumb screw has a knurled head portion 24. Formed integrally withthe supporting member I5 is a backwardly extending arcuate leg 22 whichis shaped to cooperate with the arcuately shaped depression 20, andenables the border to be tilted forward and back to provide the properangle for viewing the picture. A slot 23 is cut in the arcuate leg in alengthwise direction to accommodate the shank 2| of the thumb screw. Inthis relation the head 24 bears against the top surface of the arcuateleg 22 to position it in the depression 20.

A modified form of clamp is shown in detail in Figure 5. In this case,the clamp I4 is recessed at its sides at Ma and is thus spaced from theadjacent retaining wall of the frame. When the clamp is drawn up by thebolts H the rim 25 abuts against the shoulder'S of the border 1, andprevents excessive pressure being applied to the picture ID and itsassociated elements ll, l2, and I3. Furthermore, the recessed portion[4a enables the clamp to readily adapt itself to an easy adjustmentwithin the frame.

Still another form of clamp is shown in Figure 6. As can be seen, thisform of clamp is substantially U-shaped in cross-section, with the base26 of the U forming the inner portion of the clamp, while the arms ofthe U provide outwardly extendin flanges 21, and 28, at the front andthe back, respectively, of the clamp. Threaded holes l6 for the bolts I1 are provided only in the back flange 28 so that when the clamp is inplace the front flange 21 will present a smooth and pleasing appearanceto the eye.

A flat strip of metal 29 is attached, by spot welding or other means, tothe back of the border 1 near the top. The ends of the strip are turnedback and provided with holes to form the ears 30. If desired, the base[8 may be removed from the support by removing the thumb screw 2|, inwhich case the picture holder may be hung from a hook on a wall by meansof a wire strung through the ears 30.

I claim:

1. A picture holder comprising in combination, a frame provided with arecessed portion having an inwardly extending flange extendingtransversely of said recessed portion and adapted to receive a displaysheet, a clamp fitting within said recessed portion in front of saiddisplay sheet, a supporting member adapted to fit the back of saidflange, adjustable securin means extending through said supportin membersaid flange and at least a portion of said clamp to hold said frame andsaid display sheet in place upon said supporting member.

2. A device of the character disclosed in claim 1 in which a resilientbacking material is provided between said clamp and said flange toequalize the pressure exerted. by said flange against the display sheet.

3. A picture holder comprising in combina tion, a frame provided with arecessed portion, the front portion of said recess forming a shoulderand the rear portion of said recess having an inwardly extending flangeextendin transversely of said recessed portion and adapted to receive adisplay sheet, a clamp fitting within the recessed portion of saidborder in front of the display sheet, the front of said clamp beingprovided with a laterally extending rim adapted to abut against saidshoulder, means threaded in said clamp and extending through saidsupporting member said flange and at least a portion of said clamp tohold said frame and the display sheet in place upon said supportingmember.

4. A device of the character disclosed in claim 3 in which a resilientbacking material is provided between said clamp and said flange toequalize the pressure exerted by said flange against the display sheet.

5. A picture holder having a tiltably positionable base comprising incombination, a frame provided with a recessed portion having an inwardlyextending flange extending transversely of said recessed portion andadapted to receive a display sheet, a clamp provided with spacedlaterally extending flanges at the front and at the back and fittingwithin the recessed portion of said frame in front of said inwardlyextending transverse flange, a supporting member adapted to fit the backof the inwardly extending flange in said recess, securing means threadedin the back flange of said clamp and extending through said supportingmember and said transversely extending flange to hold said frame and thedisplay sheet in place upon said supporting member.

6. A device of the character disclosed in claim 5 in which a resilientbacking material is provided between said clamp and said inwardlyextending flange to equalize the pressure exerted by said flange againstthe display sheet.

JOHN NIVER SCISM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,220,418 Hawkes Mar. 27, 19171,338,781 Levy May 4, 1920 1,758,627 Sweitzer May 13, 1930 1,965,668Ringwald July 10, 1934 2,190,557 Connell Feb. 13, 1940

